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In 2000, refinements of already developed technologies and industry practices were aimed at increasing aquaculture production and decreasing production cost through more innovative approaches like the application of biotechnology, particularly on growth acceleration. Technologies were also verified in actual field conditions as to technical, environmental, and socioeconomic considerations. Those found viable were demonstrated in various sites in collaboration with the Philippine government agencies, local government units, and fishfarmers. On the regional level, and initially in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries of Thailand, AQD conducted verification and demonstration activities in Thailand and Vietnam.

Many people living in the rural areas in the Philippines, as in other developing countries in Southeast Asia, depend on aquatic resources for their food and livelihood. For the past two decades, the Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC-AQD) has been working with fishing communities and people’s organizations, business sector, local government units, national government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and academic and other research institutions to promote the efficient conservation, management and sustainable development of the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources so that these may continue to serve the needs of the people today and tomorrow.

Using the lessons learned from those two decades of multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary collaborations, SEAFDEC-AQD launched in late 2006 a project called Institutional Capacity Development for Sustainable Aquaculture (ICDSA) to hasten the transfer to and adoption by coastal villagers of appropriate technologies that would enhance the productivity of aquatic resources and at the same time safeguard the fragile balance of the aquatic ecology.

The experience of SEAFDEC in coastal resource management shows that it is important to engage the collaboration of the local government units and other “on-the-ground” institutions, such as NGOs and people’s organizations, to be able to introduce effectively any social and technological interventions to target community-beneficiaries. However, before a fruitful collaboration among these institutions could be attained, there is a need to build their capacities, and those of the beneficiaries, for the vital roles that they play in the implementation of livelihood projects and environmental management programs.

As of January 2008, SEAFDEC-AQD is implementing ICDSA projects in four provinces—Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Northern Samar in central Philippines. In the pipeline are similar projects for a province in southern Philippines and two provinces in the north.

The aquaculture sector of the Philippine fishing industry registered the highest growth rate of 12.5% in 1977-1986. The contribution of aquaculture to the total fish production was equivalent to 24% in 1986 compared to only 85 in the early 1970's. In terms of quantity, the mariculture subsector registered the highest growth rate of 10.2% in 1982-1986, whereas in terms of value the brackishwater fishpond subsector showed the highest growth rate of 33%. Meanwhile, freshwater aquaculture production exhibited a negative growth rate due to reduction of activities in Laguna de Bay and the slow expansion in hectarage of the commercial freshwater fishponds.

Sustainable development of seafarming and searanching calls for careful planning. Investments in seafarming must take into account environmental, biotechnological, and socioeconomic considerations. Investment planning must be carefully examined as well as the physical design of production systems such that its negative impact is minimized and the positive impact is accentuated.Supply from the wild may not be expected to grow much higher than present levels. Many of the major commercially valuable fisheries are now overfished at or close to their respective minimum sustainable yield levels. Seafarming can attract some of the fishermen out of overcrowded fisheries.Production cost of seafarming produce is a major concern which has to be examined closely if these are to compete with and gradually supplant the supply of fish from the wild. Feed is one of the main inhibiting factors, hence, efficient consideration calls for constantly improving feed conversion and productivity per unit input.Existing government policies are not clear nor conducive to seafarming in terms of use rights of coastal waters. To attract potential investors into seafarming, governments are encouraged to review existing policies governing use rights to coastal waters, package the necessary technology consistent with the country's wage and price structure, and develop investment profile for seafarming opportunities using conservative criteria.